Lath house



J. R. ESTEY LATI-I HOUSE April 27', 1954 3 .Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug.26, 1949 ZA/VENTO?.- u( Pa/DEN EIS-rey J.R.ESTEY LATH HOUSE 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 26, 1949 TIE..

y m EU@ @5MM @my wim 5.55, fow/ p Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STAT NTOFFICE LATH HOUSE James Royden Estoy, signor to Aluminex South Pasadena,Calif., as- Incorporated, Los Angeles,

Application August 26,

3 Claims.

My invention relates in general to lath houses and a primary objectthereof is to provide a structure of this nature which may be employedto shade a relatively small area and which may be expanded to shade muchlarger areas. The lath house of my present invention includes structuralfeatures disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No.9822, filed February 20, 1%8, reference to which is hereby made.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a lath househaving wall panels which are hinged to the frame of the structure alongtheir upper edges so that they may be rotated into generally horizontalpositions to increase accessibility to the interior of the structure andto increase the shaded area. A related object is to provide a structurewherein any number of the sides of the lath house may be raised to Varythe shaded area as desired.

An important object is to provide a lath house wherein the wall panelscomprise vertical laths having their upper ends looped around horizontalrods carried by the frame to provide the desired hinged connectionsbetween the wall panels and the frame, the wall panels being rotatableabout the axes of the respective rods.

Another object is to provide a lath house wherein the rods formingelements of the hinges -for the wall `panels are spaced outwardly fromthe frame. With this construction, the frame may be substantiallycompletely enclosed -by laths, which is an important feature.

Another object is to provide a structure wherein the laths of the wallpanels are connected at their lower ends to horizontal frame memberswhich are detachable from the main frame to permit raising the wallpanels. Another object is to provide a construction wherein theaforementioned frame members are hinged to the Wall-panels along theirlower edges. A related object is to provide the frame members withhorizontal rods about which the lower ends of the laths are looped toprovide the desired hinged connections between such frame members andthe wall panels.

vAnother object is to provide a lath house wherein the attachment meansfor the detachable frame members along the lower edges of the wallpanels includes braces each of which is detachably connectible at oneend to the main frame ofthe lath house and which is pivotally connectedat its other end to one of the detachable frame members.

With the foregoing construction, the frame members may -be Arotatedlrelative to the `wall panels and the braces may be rotated relatively tothe frame members into positions such that the braces extend downwardlyfrom the frame members when the wall panels are raised. Thus, the bracesmay be employed as means for engaging struts for supporting the wallpanels in their raised positions, the struts preferably being tubular topermit insertion of the downwardly extending braces thereinto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lath househaving a door which is hinged to the frame of the structure along itsupper edge to permit rotation of the door into an elevated position insomewhat the same manner as the wall panels.

Another object is to provide a door which is hinged intermediate itsupper end lower edges so that it may be jaclikniied as it is rotatedinto its raised position.

Another object is to provide a door comprising vertical upper and lowerlaths having ends which are looped around horizontal rods at the upperedge of the door and intermediate the upper and lower edges of the doorto provide the aforementioned hinges. A related object is to provide aconstruction wherein the horizontal rod at the upper edge of the doorcomprises part of one of the rods forming the hinges for the wallpanels.

Another object is to provide means carried by he frame of the structurefor supporting the door in its raised position and for latohing the doorin its lowered position.

Another object is to provide a lath house having a roof composed oflaths which extend from eave line to eave line of the roof and which arebowed upwardly intermediate their ends for drainage purposes. A relatedobject is to provide a lath house wherein the frame includes a ridgemember which is located at a higher level than the eave lines of theroof so as to bow the roof laths upwardly intermediate their ends.Another object in this connection is to provide a root wherein the lathsare secured to the frame only at their ends and merely rest on the ridgemember.

Still another object is to provide a construction wherein the roof lathshave their ends respectively looped around two of the rods formingelements of the hinges for the wall panels, the roof laths and the walllaths connected to such rods being arranged in staggered relation,

Another object is to provide a lath house whose components may becompletely prefabricated to facilitate erection of the structure. Arelated object is to provide a lath house which may be erected readilywith only a few simple tools.

The foregoing objects and advantages of the present invention, togetherwith various other objects and advantages which will become evident inthe light of the disclosure which follows, may be attained through theemployment of the exemplary embodiment which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and which is described in detail hereinafter.Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the lath house of the invention withsubstantially all of the wall and roof laths removed to reveal thestructure of the frame of the lath house;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken at one end ofone of the cave lines of the lath house and illustrating the manner inwhich the wall and roof laths are attached to the frame;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective View of one end of one ofthe laths incorporated in the lath house;

Fig. i is an enlarged, View which is similar to one end of one of thelaths formed into a loop for attachment to the frame;

Fig. 5 is an elevational View of the lath house showing one side thereofin a raised position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing a portion ofthe lower edge of one of the sides of the lath house in a raisedposition and showing means for supporting it in such a position;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the lath house showing a doorwhich forms part thereof;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the brokenline 8-3 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the lower end ofthe door; and,

Fig. l is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view showing the lowerend of the door and showing a latching means therefor.

Referring particularly to Fig. l of the drawings, the numeral IIdesignates the frame of the lath house of the invention, the frame beingof rectangular plan in the particular construction illustrated. As willbe apparent, the frame II includes columns I2 at its corners andincludes an additional column I3 which is spaced from one of the cornercolumns I2 to provide a doorway I4. The columns I2 and I3 are providedat their lower ends with feet I which may rest on the ground or onsuitable foundations (not shown). If desired, the feet I5 may be boltedor otherwise secured to such foundations as is well known in the art.

Bolted or otherwise secured to the upper ends of the columns l2 and I3and extending between the corner columns I2 are pairs of frame membersI8 and I9, the frame members I3 being regarded as eave members forconvenience. l'n order to rigidify the frame, diagonal braces 23 extendbetween and are bolted or otherwise secured to the columns I2 and I3 andthe frame members I8 and I9. A ridge member 2i is disposed intermediateand parallel to the eave members i8 and extends from one of the framemembers I9 to the other, the ridge member being fragmentary perspectivebolted or otherwise secured to the frame members I9. the eave members I3for a reason to hereinafter.

The frame II also includes pairs of frame members 24 and 25 respectivelylocated beneath The ridge member 2i projects above be discussed Fig. 3but which shows 4 the frame members I8 and I9 and detachabiy connectedto the columns I2 and 3 adjacent their lower ends, as by bolts 26. Itwill be noted that one of the frame members 2t is shorter than the otherand terminates at the column I3 so as to leave the doorway I4 clear. Theframe members 24 and 25 are further connected to the columns l2 and I3by diagonal braces 21 to rigidify the frame I I, the braces 21 beingdetachably connected to the columns, as by bolts 23, and being pivotallyconnected to the frame members 24 and 25, as by bolts 29.

The eave members IS respectively carry cave rods 32 which are spacedoutwardly from the frame I as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, theeaVe rods being welded or otherwise secured to horizontally projectinglugs 33 on the frame. Rods 34 are carried by the frame members I9 and,as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, are also spaced outwardly fromthe frame II, the rods 3e being secured to horizontal lugs 35 which aresimilar to the lugs 33.

The lath house includes a roof composed of a plurality of roof laths 3'!which extend between and are connected at their ends to the eave rods 32in a manner to be described. The roof laths 3l are spaced apart to admitsome sunlight, the spacing and width of the roof latchs being determinedby the amount of shading desired.

As best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the roof laths 3l are connectedto the eave rods 32 by looping end portions of the laths around therods. Referring particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings, each roof lath31 includes a tongue 38 having a pair of tabs 3s extendingperpendicularly therefrom, these tabs being insertable into slots iii inthe lath. As best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the lath 31 isattached to one of the rods 32 by binding the tongue 38 around the rodand inserting the tabs 39 into the slots di), the ends of the tabssubsequently being clinched to lock them in place.

As will -be apparent from Fig. 1 of the drawings, the roof laths 3l aresecured to the frame II only at their ends by looping the tongues 38thereon around the eave rods 32 in the foregoing manner, the roof lathsmerely resting on the ridge member 2| intermediate their ends. Since, aspreviously pointed out, the ridge member 2l projects above the eavemembers I8, the roof laths 3l are bowed upwardly intermediate their endsto provide a roof which slopes downwardly from its ridge line toward itseave lines so that rain falling on the roof laths drains toward the eavelines. This reduces the amount of rain reaching the interior of thestructure.

In order to rigidify the roof laths 31, which are preferably formed of arelatively thin sheet metal such as aluminum, for example, they arepreferably made channel shaped, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.Further rigidity is provided by doubling the arms of the channels backon themselves, as indicated by the numerals QI. In order to securebetter drainage of rain falling on the roof laths 31, the laths arepreferably installed with the channels facing upwardly.

Considering the wall structure of the lath house, it comprises sidewalls 44 and end walls 45, one of the side walls 44 being shorter thanthe other and terminating at the column I3 to leave the doorway I4clear. Each of the Walls 44 and l5 comprises a plurality of spaced,vertical wall laths 46 which are substantially identical to the rooflaths 31, the wall laths being looped around the rods 32 and 34 at theirupper ends in sub- 5. stantially the same manner as the ends of the rooflaths 31 are looped around the rods 32. This construction provideshinges along the upper edges of the walls 44 and 45 to permit rotationof the walls upwardly about the axes of the respective rods intoelevated positions as will be discussed in more detail hereinafter.

As best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the ends of the roof laths 31and the wall laths- 46 forming the side walls 44 are looped around theeave rods in alternating relation so that such wall laths are staggeredwith respect to the roof laths. The tongues 3S at the ends of the rooflaths 31 and the corresponding tongues at the ends of the wall laths 46forming the side walls 44 are preferably arranged in abutting relationso that such tongues maintain predetermined spacings between the laths.As will be apparent, the lath spacings may be varied by varying thetongue widths with this construction.

The lower ends of the wall laths 45 forming the side walls 44 are loopedaround rods 55 in substantially the same manner as the ends of the rooflaths 31 are looped around the eave rods 32. The rods 5D are secured tohorizontally projecting lugs 5I on the frame members 24 and are thusspaced outwardly from the frame II in the same manner as the eave rodsS2, the rods 5I) preferably being in substantially the same verticalplanes as the respective eave rods. The lower ends of the wall laths 4eforming the end walls 45 are similarly looped around rods 52 secured tohorizontally projecting lugs 53 on the frame members 25. Thus, the rods52 are also spaced outwardly from the frame I I and are preferablydisposed in substantially the same vertical planes as the respectiverods l34.

In order to maintain the desired spacing between the wall laths 45 ofthe walls 45 and to assist in maintaining the desired spacing betweenthe wall laths of the side walls 44, I prefer to employ clamping devices56 each of which includes a pair of clamping members 51 disposed onopposite sides of the wall laths and secured together by bolts 58. Theclamping devices also serve to f rigidity the walls 44 and 45 by tyingtne wall laths together, and further serve to prevent strumming of thewall laths in the wind, which are other features of the invention.

As a matter of convenience in considering the manner in which the sidewalls 44 and 45 may be rotated into elevated positions and supported insuch positions, the disclosure will be limited to a consideration of oneof the side walls 44, it

being understood that the remaining walls may 2 be elevated andsupported in a similar manner. Preparatory to elevating one of the sidewalls 44, it is necessary to detach the corresponding frame members 24-from the frame II and to detach the corresponding diagonal braces 21from the frame II. This may be accomplished by removing thecorresponding bolts 26 and 28, which may be provided with wing nuts (notshown) to facilitate detachment. Subsequently, the detached side wall 44is rotated upwardly into a generally horizontal position, as indicatedin phantom in Fig. 5 of the drawings, about the axis of thecorresponding eave rod 32, the looped ends of the wall laths 46 and theeave rod providing a hinge means permitting such rotation. As indicatedin Figs. 5 and 6, the frame member 24 is rotated relative to the walllaths 4t of the elevated side wall 44 through an angle of approximately80 about the axis of the corresponding rod 50. Thereafter, the braces 21carried by the frame member 24 under consideration are rotateddownwardly until they are substantially perpendicular to the framemember. Subsequently, the braces 21 may be inserted into the upper endsof tubular struts 50 for supporting the side wall 44 in its elevatedposition. The remaining side wall 44 and the end walls 45 may beelevated and supported in a similar manner.

It will be apparent that the area shaded bythe lath house may be variedthroughout a wide range by varying the number of walls which are raisedin the foregoing manner, the shaded area being a minimum when none ofthe walls are raised and being a maximum when all of them are raised.Also, when all of the walls 44 and 45 are raised, the interior structureis relatively free of obstructions because of the fact that all of thelower frame members 24 and 25 are elevated out of the way.

Referring to Figs. 7 to 10 of the drawings, the lath house includes adoor 53 for closing the doorway i4, the door being hinged to the frameII along its upper edge so that it may be rotated into an elevatedposition, and being hinged intermediate its upper and lower edges sothat it may be jackkniied as it is elevated. The door 53 includes aplurality of laths B4 having their upper ends looped around a portion ofone of the eave rods 32 above the doorway I 4 in the manner hereinbeforedescribed, the lower ends of the laths 54 being looped around ahorizontal rod 55 intermediate the upper and lower edges of the doors.The looped upper ends of the laths 64 and the looped endsv of the rooflaths 31 are arranged in alternating relation so as to maintainpredetermined spacings between the laths 31 and the laths 54 in themanner previously discussed. The upper ends of additional laths 65 arealso looped around the intermediate rod G5 in alternating relation withthe lower ends of the laths S4 so that the laths 54 and 58 are staggeredwith respect to each other. As previously pointed out, this alternatingrelation serves tov maintain the desired spacing between the laths S4and et. The lower ends of the laths 56 are looped around a lowerhorizontal rod '61.

In order to maintain the desired spacings between the laths 56 adjacentthe lower rod 61, I provide channel-shaped clips 68 which, as best shownin Fig. 9 of the drawings, are adapted to span the spaces between thelaths 55. Each arm of each clip 68 is inserted into one of the slots forreceiving the tabs at the ends of the tongues on the laths 56 and issubsequently clinched (not shown).

As best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the upper portion of the door63 is rotatable upwardly into a generally horizontal position about theaxis of the eave rod 32 to which it is connected, and the lower portionof the door is rotatable upwardly into a generally horizontal positionabout the axis of the intermediate rod $5, the two portions of the doorbeing adapted to jackknife as shown. In order to maintain the door B3 inits elevated, jackknifed position, I provide horizontally projectinglugs 1!) on the column I2 and the column I3 dening the doorway I4, theselugs being provided with downwardly extending notches 1I therein toreceive the lower rod 61. Thus, when the door 63 is elevated into itsjackknifed position as shown and the lower rod 61 is dropped into thenotches 1I in the lugs 1D, the latter will hold the door in suchposition. Alternatively, the lower rod 61 may rest on the'lower ange ofthe channel-Y shaped eave member I8, as will be apparent from Fig. 8.

The door 63 may be latched in its lowered, or closed, position in amanner about to be described. As best shown in Fig. 10 of the draw-4ings, projecting from the column I3 is a horizontal lug 12 having a hole13 therethrough to receive one end of the lower rod 61. Projectinghorizontally from the corner column I2 adjacent the doorway I4 is a lughaving a flange 14 which carries a rotatable hook 15, the latter beingadapted to hook over the opposite end of the lower rod 61, as best shownin Fig. 9 of the drawings. As will be apparent, the lower rod l61 may bereleased to permit raising the door 63 by rotating the hook 15 through90 and by Withdrawing the lower rod from the hole 13.

As previously mentioned, the various components of the lath house arepreferably completely prefabricated so that erection of the lath housemerely involves assembly of its various components at the site withoutany necessity for employing skilled labor or special tools andequipment. Also, the lath house can be erected readily with a minimumexpenditure of time. It will be appreciated that, since labor costs areresponsible for a large part of the cost of erecting any structure, verysubstantial savings in labor costs for erecting purposes may be attainedwith the structure hereinbeiore described. The various components ofthis structure can, of course, be manufactured relatively economically,particularly if large quantities are involved.

Although various materials may be employed,

1 prefer to utilize aluminum and/or aluminum alloys for the variouscomponents of the lath house, and particularly for the laths themselves.The principal advantage of employing aluminum and/or aluminum alloys isthat the resulting structure is extremely light, thus facilitatingerection thereof and avoiding any necessity for supporting extremelylarge weights in the completed structure. Also, aluminum is easilyformed, thereby facilitating bending the ends of the laths around thecorresponding rods.

Although i have described an exemplary embodiment oi my invention hereinfor illustrative purposes, it will be appreciated that various changes,inodiiications and substitutions may be incorporated therein withoutdeparting from the spirit or the invention, and I hereby reserve theright to all such changes, modifications and substitutions as properlycome within the scope of the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:

l. 1n a lath house, the combination of z a frame; a generally horizontalupper rod carried by said frame and spaced outwardly thereof in ahorizontal direction; a frame member detachably connectible to saidframe in a generally hori-v zontal position beneath said upper rod;attachment means for detachably connecting said frame member to saidframe in said position; a generally horizontal lower rod carried by saidframe member and spaced outwardly thereof in said horizontal directionwhen said frame member is in said position, said upper and lower rodsbeing substantially parallel and being in substantially the samevertical plane when said frame member is in said position; and aplurality oi laths extending between said upper and lower rods, saidlaths being looped around said upper rod at their upper ends and beinglooped around said lower rod at their lower ends to provide for pivotalmovement of said laths relative to said frame about the axis of Saidupper rod and to provide for pivotal movement of said frame memberrelative to said laths about the axis of said lower rod.

2. A lath house according to claim 1 wherein said attachment meansincludes a brace detachably eonnectible at one end to said frame andpivotally connected at its other end to said frame member, said bracebeing rotatable relative to said frame member into a positionsubstantially perpendicular thereto.

3. In a lath house, the combination of a frame; a wall panel including aplurality of laths; attachment means for detachably connecting said wallpanel to said frame adjacent the lower edge of said panel; generallyhorizontal hinge means for pivotally connecting said wall panel to saidframe adjacent the upper edge o said panel to permit upward rotation ofsaid panel into a generally horizontal position upon detachment of thelower edge thereof from said frame; and a brace detachably connectibleto said frame and pivotally connected to said wall panel adjacent thelower edge of said panel, said brace being rotatable into a downwardlyextending position for engagement with a strut when said wall panel isin said generally horizontal position so as to support said panel insaid generally horizontal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Re. 5,511 Landis July 29, 1873 932,972 Drake Aug. 31, 19091,001,267 Hetrick Aug. 22, 1911 1,581,832 Blockhan Apr. 20, 19261,942,713 Klinka Jan. 9, 1934 2,068,543 Greegor Jan. 19, 1937 2,466,220Ferguson Apr. 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 150,210Switzerland Jan. 2, 1932

